France to lower school starting age from six to three

Children in France will start school at the age of three instead of six, under new reforms announced by President Emmanuel Macron.

The change will give France one of the lowest compulsory school starting ages in Europe.

But it will only affect a small number of children, as the majority of French families already choose to send their children to school at three.

Only 2.4% of children are not enrolled at that age, government figures show.

Mr Macron said the change was intended to reduce inequality in education, as parents in poorer areas of France and in overseas territories are less likely to send their children to school at an early age.